Editor's Letter

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As I write this, the entire frock frenzy that is the Fall 2007 collections, as well as what has come to be known as awards season, is drawing to a close, and I'm beginning to think that Shakespeare had it wrong: All the world is, in fact, a runway, and all the men and women are fashion critics.

Not that there's anything wrong with that. In fact, nothing gives me greater pleasure than knowing people are living and breathing fashion. But style is so often in the eye of the beholder that I'm reminded of something Diana Vreeland once said: "Bad taste is better than no taste."

Fortunately, at Harper's Bazaar, we live only to celebrate what we love. When we're picking out the clothes and accessories to feature on our covers and our pages, our task is simple: We focus on the best of the best in order to save you time. Take this month's Travel Special on page 139, for example. Whether your summer holiday plans include dressing for formal dinners or dancing barefoot on the beach (or a little of both), we've got you covered with pages of ideas on what to bring along.

Jacqui Getty brings the holiday spirit along wherever she goes. Photographed by Lisa Eisner at home with husband Peter, daughter Gia Coppola, and a glamorous cast of Gia's young friends (page 214), Jacqui turns fashion, fun, and just a little bit of fantasy into a family affair.

When it comes to fantasy, Dita Von Teese could probably teach anyone a trick or two. But on page 196, the megawatt burlesque star opens up about her all-too-real recent split from rocker Marilyn Manson and about living her public pinup persona.

One of the greatest things about fashion is its power to transform, and I can't think of a better story of transformation than My Fair Lady. This month, beginning on page 168, photographer Peter Lindbergh chronicles the story of our cover star, Gwen Stefani, as she goes from flower girl to lady. The Professor Higginses of this world might disagree, but we think that even before Pygmalion gets his white-gloved hands on her, Gwen looks absolutely loverly.